Spring bed-bottom



(No Model.)

S. D. TUTTLE, Sr.

Patented Aug. 31, 1886.

SPRING BED BOTTOM.

wi -Ewes 0 ea UNITED STATES PATENT FFIcE.

STERLING DECATUR TUTTLE, SR, OF EATON, OHIO.

SPRING BED-BOTTOM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,539, dated August31, 1886. Application filed May 1, 1886. Serial No. 200,834. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STERLING Dnca'run TUTTLE, Sn, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Eaton, in the county of Preble and State ofOhio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Spring Bed-Bottoms,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved bedbottom; and it consists of thepeculiar combination and novel construction and arrangement of thevarious parts for service, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth,and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a bed bottomembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged View, in plan, of aportion of the bed-bottom, to more clearly show the construction of theparts thereof. Fig. 3 is an end elevation. Fig. 4 is a detachedperspective view of one of the springs of the bed-bottom.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference denotecorresponding parts in all the figures, A designates a bed-bottomconstructed and arranged in accordance with my invention. The bottomcomprisesaseries of coiled springs, B, of peculiar form, and thesesprings B are arranged in longitudinal and transverse series of thebottom. The springs numbered 1 at the head of the bedbottom are made ofstrong and stout wire to resist the heaviness of the load or weight ofthe person thereon, and the springs at the sides of the bed, numbered 2,are made of lighter and less strong wire than the series of springsnumbered 1. The series of springs numbered 1 only extend halfway of thebed or toward the foot thereof, and the springs numbered 3 at the footof the bed are made of wireof less strength and rigidity than the seriesof springs either 1 or 2.

It will thus be seen that the springs that comprise my bed-bottom aremade of gradually-decreasing strength or rigidity from the head towardthe sides and foot, and by this peculiar construction and arrangement ofthe springs I am enabled to equalize the weight of two persons ofunequal heaviness when they occupy the bed, and prevent them from bothrolling or sliding toward the center or middle of the bed, as is thecase when the springs are all made of one strength or rigidity.

The weaker springs at the sides of the bed are made of sufficientstrength to withstand the weight and wear that occur during ordinaryusage of the bed, and they give the occupants an easy and comfortablesupport, and the still weaker springs at the foot of the bed provide forthe proper support of the legs and feet and prevent them from beingelevated higher than the head of the occupant, which is very desirablein this class of devices.

Each of the springs is made helical shaped, and the upper coil of eachspring is bent around the second coil or the coil adjacent thereto, theupper and second coils of the springs being lettered c and 11,respectively. The second coil, 0, of each of the springs is bentinwardly upon itselfto provide a lip or detent, d, and the free end ofthe coil (1 is bent around the coil 0 in rear or to one side of the coil0, so that the free end of the coil (1 and the spring is prevented fromlongitudinal movement on the spring and to retain the tension of thespring from being SlEtOkGllCd.

The springs of the bed-bottom are secured to longitudinal slats D, andthese slats are con neeted and braced by transverse slats E, which aresuitably secured thereto, thus forming an open frame for the support ofthe springs, said frame being made of any desired size to fit bedsteadsof different sizes. The extremities of the longitudinal slats D of theframe are connected by transverse slats F, which are suitably securedthereto, and the ends of the transverse slats E are provided withlongitudinal slats G, which are secured thereto by screws or othersuitable means, and which lie above the plane of the slats E. To theseslats F and G are connected bracing cords or wires H for the side andend series of springs of the bed-bottom. These cords or wires aredoubled or bent around the slats F and G one or more times, and the freeends thereof are connected to one of the coils of wire of the helicalsprings to strengthen and brace the latter and prevent them from undulyleaning to one side under the weight of the occupant of the bed. Thelower ends of the springs are each secured to the longitudinal slats Dof the open bed-frame by means of two or more staples h,

which are driven into the slats and embrace the lower coil or wire ofthespring, and the free ends of the springs are bent over the edges ofthe slats andinserted into the latter on one of the sides thereof, thusproviding secure means for connecting the lower ends of the springs tothe open frame of the bed.

Each of the springs is connected to the fellow spring adjacent theretoby means of a straight cross-link, I, that is bent around the upper coilof the springs, as shown, and the springs are further connected forstrength and rigidity by cross-links K and L, which are connectedtogether at their middle by bending or twisting them upon each other, asshown, the free ends of the links being bent around the upper coils offour springs that are arranged in juxtaposition to each other.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, taken in connectionwith the drawings, that by the peculiar arrangement of the light andstrong springs I am enabled to equalize the weight of two personsoccupying the bed at the same time, and that the legs and feet of theoccupants are not elevated higher than the heads, that the coils c and dalways occupy the same relative positions to each other whether the bedis occupied or not, and they are prevented from movement upon oneanother, and thus add rigidity and strength to the structure, and bymeans of the bracing cords the springs at the sides and ends of the bedare prevented from undue strain and movement under the weight of theoccupant.

Various slight changes in the form and proportion of parts may be madewithout depart ing from the principle of my invention.

By placing the longitudinal slats F upon the transverse slats I) thebracing cords or wires act more directly upon the springs and at a shortdistance.

I am aware of Patent No. 264,468, in which is shown a bed-bottomcomposed of a series of strong springs at the top and main portion andthe lighter and more flexible springs at the foot. My invention differsfrom this device in that the stronger series of springs,1,are arrangedat the middle of the bed, and the weaker springs, 2, on opposite sidesof the stronger springs, while the more flexible springs are arranged atthe foot, the entire series of springs throughout the bottom beingconnected by a straight and cross links. The advantage of having thestronger springs,1,at the middle is that the occupants are preventedfrom moving toward the middle of the bed, which is very objectionableduring the warm season,and the springs are braced and strengthened bythe intermediate links.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a bed-bottom, the combination, with the longitudinal slats D, thetransverse slats E, secured on and abox e the longitudinal slats, theslats G, secured to the extremities of the transverse slats E and lyingabove the latter, the springs secured on theslats D E, and the cords orflexible connections doubled around the slats G one or more times andconnected at their free ends to the springs between the ends thereof,substantially as described.

In testimony that I' claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

WM. N. MooRn, JOHN H. SIGGERS.

